Event-triggered eye occlusion

Abstract

A system and method for user-initiated occlusion of vision includes an electrically or electromagnetically controlled lens disposable in front of one of the user's eyes. The lens may be controlled by a trigger device including a sensor that may be activated by various motions of the user's body. The trigger device may communicate with the lens wirelessly. The lens may be incorporated in a wearable apparatus or head gear having a variety of forms.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wearable apparatus, comprising:
 a lens controllable to selectively occlude vision;   a housing enclosing a controller and coupled to the lens, the housing adapted to be worn by a user so that the lens is positioned in front of a user's eye; and   a user-activated trigger mechanism adapted to transmitting a signal to the controller when activated by the user, the controller causing the lens to occlude the user's eye.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting structure, said mounting structure adapted to be attached to a headband. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting structure, said mounting structure adapted to be attached to a headset. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting structure, said mounting structure adapted to be attached to a pair of glasses. 
     
     
         5 . An occlusion system, comprising:
 a lens controllable to temporarily occlude vision;   a housing;   a double hinge coupling the lens to the housing, the double hinge flexibly positioning the lens in front of a user's eye;   a mounting structure removably coupling the housing to a device worn on a head of the user;   a controller for receiving a signal to cause the lens to occlude a portion of a field of vision of the user's eye; and   a user-activated trigger mechanism comprising a sensor for detecting an action of the user, generating the signal to occlude vision and transmitting the signal to the controller.   
     
     
         6 . The occlusion system of  claim 5 , wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
         7 . The occlusion system of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting structure is adapted to attach the housing to either arm of a pair of glasses. 
     
     
         8 . The occlusion system of  claim 7 , wherein the double hinge enables the lens to be oriented relative to a proximal lens of the pair of glasses. 
     
     
         9 . The occlusion system of  claim 5 , wherein the lens is electrically or electromagnetically controlled to temporarily occlude vision. 
     
     
         10 . The occlusion system of  claim 9 , wherein the lens comprises an electrically-controllable liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     
     
         11 . The occlusion system of  claim 9 , wherein the lens comprises a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) shutter array. 
     
     
         12 . The occlusion system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller causes the lens to be occluded for a selectable degree of opacity. 
     
     
         13 . The occlusion system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller causes the lens to be occluded for a selectable period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The occlusion system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller causes the lens to be occluded after a selectable delay. 
     
     
         15 . The occlusion system of  claim 5 , wherein the user-activated trigger mechanism further comprises a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The occlusion system of  claim 15 , wherein the user-activated trigger mechanism further comprises a glove. 
     
     
         17 . The occlusion system of  claim 5 , wherein the user-activated trigger mechanism further comprises a membrane switch. 
     
     
         18 . An occluder for temporarily occluding a user's vision in one eye in response to a user-activated event when mounted to a device worn on a user's head, comprising:
 an electrically-controllable lens;   a housing adapted to be mounted to the device so that the electrically-controllable lens is positioned in front of either of a user's eyes;   a double hinge coupling the electrically-controllable lens to the housing, the double hinge flexibly positioning the electrically-controllable lens in front of a user's eye;   a controller for receiving a signal to cause the electrically-controllable lens to occlude a portion of a field of vision of the user's eye.   
     
     
         19 . The occluder of  claim 18 , wherein the signal is generated by a trigger activated by the user. 
     
     
         20 . The occluder of  claim 18 , wherein the electrically-controllable lens further comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).